The Alabama Crimson Tide take on the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Alabama is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -245. The total is set at 172.5 points.
Here’s my Alabama vs. Oklahoma prediction and college basketball picks for January 17, 2026.
Alabama vs Oklahoma Prediction
My Pick: Over 173 or Better
My Alabama vs Oklahoma best bet is on the over. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Alabama vs. Oklahoma Odds
| Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 172.5 -110o / -110u | -245 |
| Oklahoma Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 172.5 -110o / -110u | +200 |
- Alabama vs Oklahoma spread: Alabama -5.5
- Alabama vs Oklahoma over/under: 172.5 points
- Alabama vs Oklahoma moneyline: Alabama -245, Oklahoma +200
Alabama vs Oklahoma College Basketball Betting Preview
Alabama Basketball
Alabama is as dangerous as ever, playing up-tempo ball behind an elite backcourt. The Tide rank 11th nationally in KenPom's adjusted tempo, and they're second in offensive efficiency.
Labaron Philon Jr. has established himself as one of the best scoring guards in the country, forming a dynamite duo with lights-out shooter Aden Holloway.
They're still weak on defense, ranking 71st nationally in defensive efficiency. But the injury situation hasn't helped — Keitenn Bristow is out indefinitely, Taylor Bol Bowen is questionable with a hand injury and Latrell Wrightsell remains sidelined.
Bristow and Bol Bowen are two of Alabama’s best bigs, and without them, the team is significantly weaker on the glass.
Starting five-man Aidan Sherrell is a solid player, but Oats rarely plays him more than 25 minutes per game. That likely means 15-plus minutes for Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson, who has looked slow, hesitant and unathletic in his minutes this season.
Alabama lost 92-88 at home to Texas a week ago, but it bounced back with a 97-82 win at Mississippi State on Tuesday.
Even with the injuries and defensive limitations, Oats’ offensive system and elite guard play still make this a top-20 team nationally.
Freshman Amari Allen has become an even bigger piece of the equation with bodies missing, and he’s been playing excellent basketball on both ends. Over the past five games, Allen is averaging 15 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and two stocks per game while shooting 45% from deep.
Oklahoma Basketball
Oklahoma is sliding under Porter Moser, having lost three straight contests by an average margin of 14.3 points.
Fan support is low in Norman, and Moser’s seat is heating up.
The Sooners are a top-heavy, offense-minded group, riding the playmaking and shooting of their veteran transfer backcourt. Nijel Pack and Xzayvier Brown each average 15.7 points per game.
While Oklahoma grades out as the 37th-best offense nationally, the first four SEC games have told a very different story. During league action, the Sooners rank as the third-worst offense in the conference, shooting a league-low 45.5% inside the arc.
Pack and Brown are knockdown shooters who stretch the defense and can create shots for teammates, but there are stretches when this offense stagnates and stalls out.
The winning formula for this group is taking care of the basketball and scoring at a high level, because, defensively, it’s been fairly pedestrian, ranking 131st nationally in defensive efficiency. It’s not a very disruptive unit, even with athletic wings like Davis and Derrion Reid, plus a strong rim protector in Mohamed Wague.
One intriguing wildcard for Oklahoma was introduced a few weeks ago, when the Sooners added 23-year-old, 6-foot-11 Russian big man Kirill Elatontsev midseason. He didn’t do much in his first few collegiate games, but he drilled all four of his 3-point attempts against Florida on Tuesday.
Alabama vs. Oklahoma Betting Analysis
This is a very gettable game for Oklahoma at home, against another offense-minded team, one that isn’t particularly disruptive defensively and is missing some key players.
That said, I have a hard time getting myself to back this group.
Oklahoma hasn’t competed well enough on defense, and it has struggled offensively against quality competition.
This is a tricky spot for Alabama, though, having to rely more on Williamson and facing an arguably desperate Oklahoma team. A win here would be massive for the Sooners’ bubble hopes.
If I were to bet a side, I’d lean toward the Tide, whom I trust more to execute even while shorthanded, thanks to the excellence of Philon, Holloway and Allen.
Instead, I’ll opt for a play on the total, with little faith in either defense and two tremendous shooting teams sharing the floor.
My Pick: Over 173 or Better
